Talk about getting off to a flying stop.
In their season-opening homestand, the Indians lost two of three games to one of the worst teams in the American League last year. On April 6, the Tribe was outscored, 10-7, by the Minnesota Twins, who won two of the three games in the weekend series.
Justin Masterson had an awful day, and so did the Indians’ hitters — or did they?
David Murphy had four hits, Michael Brantley had three, and Nick Swisher, Jason Kipnis and Carlos Santana had two hits each. Kipnis had a three-run double in the fourth inning, and Yan Gomes slugged a solo home run in the second inning.
The Indians scored seven runs, but they probably should have scored twice that many. The Tribe was 3-for-16 with runners in scoring position. The Indians left 12 runners on base.
“I thought we swung the bats about as well as we can, but sometimes this ballpark plays big,” said Manager Terry Francona.
Masterson lasted 3 2/3 innings, giving up six runs on seven hits and three walks. He threw 97 pitches before being excused for the day.
“He just wasn’t commanding his pitches the way he normally does,” Francona said.
The only solace for Masterson was that he didn’t take the loss. That went to reliever Blake Wood, who entered a 6-6 game in the sixth inning. With one out, Wood walked Brian Dozier, who stole second. Joe Mauer was intentionally walked, and Wood hit Jason Bartlett with a pitch to load the bases.
Chris Colabello — your American League RBI leader at the moment — unloaded the bases by belting a double into the gap in left-center. That gave the Twins a lead they held the rest of the way.
“That was a tough inning,” Francona said. “Just when we had clawed our way back into — that hurt.”
Wood was the worst of five relievers used by the Indians, who after winning two of three games in Oakland came home to lose two of three to the Twins.Notes
Michael Bourn, who has been on the disabled list since opening day with a strained hamstring, played seven innings on a rehab assignment at Triple-A Columbus on April 5. Francona said Bourn will play at Columbus again on April 7 and probably April 9, after which, if he has no setbacks, he could be activated. ... Through their first six games, the Indians are hitting .191 with runners in scoring position.